ChapterNotesSystematicTheology

Chapter1Prolegomena
Theologyisdefinedastherationalinterpretationofreligiousfaith.Theologyconsistsofthree
elements.Thefirstisthattheologyisintelligible.Humanscancomprehenditwiththeirrationalminds.
Thesecondisthattheologyrequiresexplanation.ForChristiantheology,thisincludesbiblicalexegesis
andsystematization.Thirdandlast,theChristianfaithfindsitssourceintheBible.Withoutsomeformof
specialrevelation,GodcannotbefullyknownandChristwouldremainamysterytothemodernworld.
Theologyiscategorizedindifferentways.Onewayisbytheerapatristictheology,medieval
thinking,theology,moderntheology.AnotherwayisbyviewpointArminiantheology,Calvinistic
theology,andliberationtheology.Andlastly,byfocushistoricaltheology,biblicaltheology,systematic
theology,apologetictheology,andexegeticaltheology.
Historicaltheologystudieswhatpeopleorgroupsofpeoplethroughouthistoryhavethought
abouttheBibleanditsteachings.Thisincludesfocusingonchurchcouncilsanddenominations.Biblical
theologyinvolvessystematicallyobservingtheprogressofGodsrevelationthroughhistorywithinthe
Bible.Thisformoftheologymustbesystematic,payattentiontothecontextofhistorywithintheBible,
focusonthesequenceintimethatGodhasrevealedinformationaboutHimself,andmostimportantly,
finditssourceintheBible.Systematictheologyshowstherelationshipoftheindividualpartsofthe
Bibletothewhole.isthediscovery,systematizing,andpresentationofthetruthsaboutGod.Historical
theologyaccomplishesthisbyfocusingonwhatothersthroughouthistoryhavesaidaboutthesetruths.
BiblicaltheologydoesthisbysurveyingtheprogressiverevelationofGodstruth.Systematictheology
presentsthetotalstructure.

Chapter2SomePresuppositions
Whetherornotpeoplerealizeit,everyoneoperatesonsomepresuppositions.Fortheists,the
mainpresuppositionisthatthereisaGod.TrinitariansbelievethatGodisTriunityandthattheBibleis
true.IftheBiblewasnottrue,thentrinitarianismisuntrueandChristliedabouthisidentity.Soanother
essentialpresuppositionisthattheBibleistrue.GoddesiredtocommunicatetruthwhenHemade
Himselfknowntomankind,nottomakeitobscure.SoeverythingwithintheBibleshouldbetaken
literally.ThisdoesnotnegatethefactthatsymbolsandparableswithintheBiblehavecertain,essential
contexts.Rather,aliteralinterpretationofthesewillreflectaconsciousunderstandingofthe
grammaticalhistoricalcontexttounderstandthemeaningofapassage.TheOldTestamentrevelation
wasonlypartialandpreparatoryfortheNewTestament.TheNewTestamenthasthegreaterpriority
forChristiansovertheOldTestament,butbothareinspiredbyGod.
Thedifferencebetweenexegesisandtheologyisthesystemthattheyeachuse.Exegesis
analyzestheologycorrelatesthoseanalyses.Exegesisrelatesthemeaningsoftextstheologyinterrelates
thosemeanings.Exegesisislikethepuzzlepieceinrelationtotheology,whichisthewholepuzzlethat
makessenseofthepieces.Infact,theologysgoalistosystematizetheteachingsunderconsideration.
Thelimitsoftheologycoincidewiththelimitsofrevelation.WhereGodhasnotspoken,theologycannot
speakforitself.
Thestudentoftheologymustbeabeliever.Believershaveadeeperlevelofintimacywith
Scripturethanunbelievers.Thestudentmustalsothinktheologicallywhichincludesthinkingexegetically
andsystematically.HeorshemustdependupontheHolySpiritforguidanceandunderstanding.And
lastly,thestudentoftheologymustworship.WhenstudyingGod,Hisbeingandactionsstrikeaweina
believersheartthatshouldinitiateaspiritofworship.

Chapter3TheQuestionofAuthority
Inliberalism,reasonstandsastheforemostdeciderofhumantruth.However,reasoncanonly
gosofarandisveryfallible.Inareactiontoliberalism,historically,feelingsbecameagreatfocusfor
truth.Thismadetheologyverymuchlikeanthropologyandpsychology.Italsomadetheologicaltruth
restonreligiousexperienceswhichareeasilydistorted.Anotherformofauthorityinliberalismis
conscience.Thelittlecricketwhosaid,Alwaysletyourconsciencebeyourguidereallysumsupthis
position.Butsinceourknowledgeisunreliableandlimited,thebasicmoralinstinctsthathumanspossess
isnotagoodbasisforauthority.
NeoorthodoxyliesbetweenliberalismandconservatismbecauseitinsiststhatGod,notman,
mustinitiaterevelation,butusesliberalviewstoapproachtheBible.KarlBarthisthefounderof
neoorthodoxy.Buttohim,theWordismainlyChristandnottheBible.Godtooktheinitiativein
revealingHimself,primarilythroughJesus.ButtheBibleisafallibleinstrumentthatGodusesto
communicateHimself.
Conservatismhasitsbasisofauthorityinsomethingexternaltomanwhichisobjective.
ConservativeCatholicismbasisitsauthorityinthechurchitself.ThechurchinterpretstheBiblefor
believersandtraditionsareheldasasourceofdivinerevelationnexttotheBible.Conservative
ProtestantismholdstheBibletobeitssoleauthority.However,sometimesconservativeprotestantsdo
notpracticethisintheory.Inpractice,sometraditionsordenominationsgivetheircreedscoordinate
authoritywiththeBible.Also,somegroupsgivetraditionandacceptedpracticecoordinateauthority
withtheBible.Lastly,somemakereligiousexperienceauthoritativeespeciallyinthemorecharismatic
practices.

Chapter4TheKnowledgeofGod
ScriptureconfirmsthatGodisincomprehensibleandknowableatthesametime.BysayingGod
isincomprehensible,itsimplymeansthatmancannotknoweverythingaboutGod.Likewise,tosaythat
GodisknowabledoesnotmeanthatmancanknoweverythingaboutHim.Godisthesourceofour
knowledgeofHim.ThecontentoftheknowledgeofGodassertsthatitisbothfactualandpersonal.
Also,theknowledgeofGodandHisworkshasbeenrevealedprogressivelythroughhistory.Thereare
severalpurposesfortheknowledgeofGod:toleadpeopletothepossessionofeternallifetofoster
Christiangrowth,withdoctrinalknowledgeandwithadiscerninglifestyletowarnofjudgmenttocome
andtogeneratetrueworshipofGod.
TheknowledgeofGoddiffersfromallotherknowledgebecausemancanonlyknowasmuch
asGodreveals.GodinitiatedHisselfrevelationtoman.Therewasnothingthatmankinddidorcould
dotoconvinceGodtoshowHimself.GodactedasanautonomousagentindisclosingallthatHehas
revealedaboutHimselfintheBible.AnessentialpartofGodsrevelationisHisprovisionoflanguage.
Withoutlanguage,mancouldnottrulyknowanythingaboutGod.ManisalsomadeintheimageofGod.
SoitcanbeconcludedthatGodisarationalbeingwithintelligence.Humansdonothaveperfect
intelligencelikeGoddoes,butitisstillreliableenoughtoknowGodthroughspecialandgeneral
revelationaswellascommunicatewithGod.Andalthoughsinhasremovedtheguaranteethathuman
understandingisalwaysreliable,itdoesnotcompletelytakeawayapersonsabilitytounderstand.God
alsogavetheHolySpirittobelieverstorevealthethingsofGod.Thisdoesnotmakeabelieverinfallible

butitcangivethebelievertheabilitytodistinguishthetruthfromlies.

Chapter5TheRevelationofGod
GodhasrevealedHimselftomanthroughgeneralandspecialrevelation.Generalrevelation
includesallthatGodhasrevealedintheworldaroundus,includingman,whilespecialrevelation
includesvariousmeansHeusedtocommunicateHismessageinwhatwascodifiedintheBible.Both
ofthesetypesofrevelationarefromGodandaboutGod.
Generalrevelationreachesallpeoplethroughouttheentireglobe.Itemploysuniversalmeans
liketheheatofthesunandhumanconscience.Generalrevelationemploysseveralmeansoftestifying
aboutGodtomankind.Thefirstisthroughcreation.Thisisthecosmologicalargument.Itstatesthatthe
universearoundmankindisaneffectthatrequiresanadequatecause.Twopassagesthatattesttothis
featureofnaturearePsalm19:16andRomans1:1832.Anothergeneralrevelationisthroughthe
organizationoftheuniversewhichiscalledtheteleologicalargument.Thisargumentfocusesongeneral
observationsoftheuniverse.ScriptureatteststothisfeatureinPsalms19:2andPaulreiteratedthisfact
whenhepreachedtothepeopleofLystrainActs14:1518.Thereisalsotheanthropologicalargument
fortheexistenceofGod.Itstatesthatthebestexplanationfortheexistenceofthehumansoul,human
life,morality,andintelligenceliesinGodsbeingandactions.TheBiblestatesthisinPsalm94:9.The
ontologicalargumentstatesthataperfectbeingmustexistbecauseanythingshortofexistenceisnot
perfect.
GeneralrevelationcanonlytellmankindalimitednumberofthingsaboutGod.IttellsofGods

glory,creativeworkintheuniverse,supremacy,divinenature,providentialcontrolofnature,goodness,
intelligence,andlivingexistence.GeneralrevelationdisplaysGodsgrace.Evenaftermankindrejected
God,Hestilllovesandprovidesforthem.Italsogivesweighttothecasefortheism.Anotheruseof
generalrevelationisthatisjustlycondemnsthosewhorejectGod.Whilenoonecanbesavedsimply
throughgeneralrevelation.Itismorethanunfortunatethatthemajorityofpeoplewhohaveeverlived
haverejectedgeneralrevelation.
Chapter6ThePerfectionsofGod
GenerallycalledattributesofGod,perfectionsservesasabetterterm.Attributesare
qualitiesthatareinherenttoasubject.Theyidentify,distinguish,oranalyzethesubject.Godiseternal.
Godhasexistedendlessly.Godseternalandselfexistenceareinterrelatedconceptswhichsome
theologianscallaseity.ScripturetalksaboutGodbeingeverlastinginPsalm90:2andGenesis21:33.
Godisalsofree.HeisindependentofHiscreaturesandHiscreation.Isaiah40:1314testifiestothis
attribute.GodisnotobligatedtodoanythingformankindoutsideofHisdesiretodosomethingfor
man.ThemostoutstandingattributeofGodintheOldTestamentisHisholiness.Godsholinessmeans
notonlythatGodisseparatefromalluncleannessandevil,butalsothatHeispositivelypureand
distinctfromallothers.HisholinessisapurityofbeingandnatureaswellasofHiswillandaction.The
BiblespeaksofGodsholinessnumeroustimessuchasinLev.11:44,Josh.24:19,Ps.99:3,5,9,Isa.
40:25,Hab.1:12,John17:11,1Pet.1:15,Rev.4:8.Godisalsoimmutable.ThismeansthatGodis
unchangeableandunchanging.ScripturespeaksofthisinMal.3:6andJames1:17.Oneproblemwith
GodsimmutabilityisthatGen.6:6speaksofGodrepenting.However,thisisusuallyunderstoodasan
anthropomorphismandprobablyisbettertranslatedasgrieved.
Godisalsoinfinite.Hehasnoboundsorlimits.Attheconsecrationofthetemple,Solomon

acknowledgethatGodwasnotboundtoasingleplace(1Kings8:27).Sometimesthisiscalled
immensity.Godislove.Loveconsistsofaffectionandalsoofcorrection.Manygroupshave
misunderstoodtheloveofGodbyoveremphasizingHisaffectionandoverlookingHiscorrection.
Universalismisanexampleofthis.ScriptureattestedtoGodslovenaturein1John4:8.Godis
omnipotent.GodisallpowerfulandabletodoanythingconsistentwithHisownnature(Gen.17:1,Ex.
6:3,2Cor.6:18,Rev.1:8,19:6).Godisomnipresent.HeiseverywherepresentinHiswholebeingat
alltimes,notspreadoutacrosstheuniverselikepantheism(Ps.139:711).Godisomniscient.He
knowseverythingactualandpossible(Acts15:18,Ps.147:4).Godisalsorighteous(Dan.9:7,Ps.
19:9,Acts17:31),simple(John4:24),sovereign(Acts15:18,Eph.1:11),truth(John17:3,Titus1:2),
andunity(Deut.6:4).